Day 116, miles today - 16.5, total - 1,664.3

July 11, 2013

Green Mountain House, Manchester Center VT to Big Branch Shelter.

I got up at 6:00 this morning. I was the first one to get up in the hostel. I ate three bowls of cold cereal. Later Amos made pancakes for everyone. So, I ate two pancakes. At 9:00 Jeff, the hostel owner, drove us the five miles back to the AT.

                                                  Frost, Z, B-Rocket, Doodles, Jeff and Amos

The five of us hiked close together for a few miles. We hiked up a ski sloop for a short stretch. We all stopped at the top of Bromley Mountain. We sat in the sun for fifteen minutes talking. Before we left, two south bounders walked up. We talked to them for another ten minutes. We each asked the other questions and offered advice about what to expect. They were the third group of southbound hikers that I had seen in the last few days. They are about one quarter of the way into their thru-hike, while we are three quarters of the way into ours. It's cool to see their  enthusiasm for their hike.

After hiking another five miles we came to Styles Peak. We all stopped at the large rock with a nice view. We ate lunch and relaxed in the sun for one hour. I took a very short nap. B-Rocket had an 18 oz Red Velvet Cake that she had bought in town. It wasn't typical backpacker food. It was a ten serving cake. She ate maybe a third of it. She gave me a bite, it was delicious. She is always willing to share.

We had a few great overlooks today. The weather was perfect.

When B-Rocket and I got to the Big Branch Shelter, Rainbow Braids, Gonzo, Cody Coyote and Maniac were already there. I stayed in the shelter, B-Rocket slept in her tent. She uses a pool float raft as a sleeping pad. It takes a lot to blow it up, but she says it's very comfortable. A guy named Tom, that lives in the area, hiked in. He brought a few types of mushrooms that were edible. He had collected them close by.  Cody Coyote ate them.  Later Tom played a guitar and sang. He was very good. It was a great ending to a great day.